The Point: Spring 2018

the foster care system finds a foster family
to place the child with, the children live
in group homes, which consist of 20–60
children. They remain in the system until
someone wants to adopt them. The reality
is that some foster parents abuse children
or take advantage of the system. Garcia
recognizes that he had a unique experience
with foster care when compared to others.
“I have friends who, there were five
foster kids who lived with the same
foster mom, and she just did it because
it was a good source of money, and it
was just for her, and they were surviving
on their own,” Garcia said. “Once they
turn 18, she just kicks them out because
she doesn’t need them anymore.”
Unless foster children get adopted, they
remain in the system until the age of 18.
According to Garcia, sometimes only
two options exist for children in foster
care: wait to age out of the system or face
potential involvement with drugs or gangs,
sometimes leading to premature deaths.
“Some don’t even get adopted, so they’re
in foster homes until they’re age 18, and
then the system isn’t funded to keep them.
So at 18 they’re all out of the system,
and they’re all out of the foster homes,
and they’re on their own, which is very
sad,”Garcia said. “It’s a lot of being able to
figure it out on their own because nobody
else is going to be there for them.”
Kindergarten teacher Hannah Levey
and her family recognized a need in their
hometown of Mesa, Arizona and decided to
be a resource for children who have had to
care for themselves. At the age of 17, Levey’s
parents decided to start fostering children.
When the phone rings, someone informs
the Leveys of the child’s age, gender and if
he or she has any disabilities. The Leveys are
then asked if they want to take the child in.
Over the past six years, they have fostered
ten children between the ages of 6 weeks
and seven years old. The majority of these
kids have come from homes affected by
substance abuse and domestic violence.
“These kids are so sweet and so innocent,
but because of their parents’ choices they
are just kind of thrown to the side, but
they’re still so impressionable.” Levey said.
“Even though some of them have been
in so many homes, they still want to love
you and want to be loved so desperately.”
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